• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.343-354
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• 2018

In this study, the first experience of the whole research process of a novice scientist (student A) who participated in the Undergraduate Research Program (URP) was analyzed. The data were collected through observation, interviews, and document analysis with the cultural historical activity theory being used as a theoretical lens. At the beginning of novice's research, the mentor guided him in setting a research goal and provided mediating artifacts. Student A formed a research team based on the vertical relationship without a shared mental model. Two major contradictions occurred and they were the sources of changes of student A's activity system. The first contradiction was between the mentor's educational philosophy and the mentee's educational needs, which was resolved in a way that student A asked and used the mentor's network to obtain his needs about task-specific details. The second contradiction arose because the team members wanted horizontal relationship while student A wanted to stick to the vertical relationship. After student A accepted the opinions of the team members, they cooperatively changed the division of labor in the activity system. Student A decided to become a scientist and not a physics teacher, even if his major is physics education after finishing his URP research process. His URP experience also created and expanded his network in the academic field, and his negative attitude toward collaboration changed positively. Through the analysis of the structure and changes in the activity system of URP research, implications for instructional method and support system of the apprenticeship can be obtained.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.331-345
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• 2012

As a case study on the use of mentoring as a method of improving novice teachers' teaching professionalism in secondary science-gifted education, this study investigated the characteristics of mentoring science instructions for science-gifted students at the plan, performance, evaluation, and post-mentoring stages of the classes. One mentor and two mentees were selected, and mentoring in each mentee's instructions was conducted during nine classes over three times. We observed the total classes, and analyzed taped videos, the materials, the transcripts for mentoring and in-depth interviews, and field notes. The analyses of the results indicated that the characteristics of mentoring instructions, at the planning stage of the classes, exhibited the construction of more systematic classes, the escape from the schema that science instructions for science-gifted students were instructions using somewhat difficult experiments and the uses of diverse teaching strategies, the influence of the psychological burdens on developing science-gifted education programs, and the increase of the time preparing the classes. At the performance stage of the classes, the characteristics included the improvement in the quality of the classes, the influence of the psychological burdens on teaching the classes, and the inducements of some confusion on performing them. At the evaluation stage of the classes, the characteristics included the provision of the opportunities in deeply reflecting my own classes, and the provision of the practical power for improving the classes. Finally, the characteristics at the postmentoring stage could be attributed to the increase of mentees' self-confidence about their instructions and some development of mentors' teaching professionalism/mentoring skills.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.289-301
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• 2006

The purpose of this study is to investigate beginning secondary science teachers' teaching practices in terms of motivating and understanding students. Six first-year teachers participated in this study. Data were collected by classroom observations and structured interviews. Instructional materials used during the class were also collected to understand teaching practice. Lessons observed were video-tape recorded and the teachers were interviewed. Video- and audio-tape recording were transcribed. The framework, developed by Knowles Project Team of Michigan State University, was adopted and revised according to Korean classroom context and employed as an analytical tool for teaching practices. The beginning secondary science teachers intention ranged from 'Managing Work' to 'School Science.' No teachers revealed 'Reform Science Teaching' orientation. For the execution of science lessons, one teacher with 'Managing Work' orientation showed 'expert' level of execution, but the others executed at a 'novice' level. Beginning science teachers need to be guided and informed about 'Reform Science Teaching' for motivating and understanding students to develop professionally.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.297-310
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• 2021

This study explores the characteristics of within-school and across-school science teacher professional learning communities (hereafter, PLC) qualitatively. In-depth focus group interviews were conducted with science teachers belonging to seven PLCs within the science core school and three PLCs across schools. Interview questions include identity and motivation, major activities, and outcomes of PLC, as well as shortcomings and support plans for PLC. The results include both within-school and across-school science teacher PLCs formed for professional development related to science teaching and learning. Both science PLCs participated in the study showed the characteristics of a 'practice community' that developed a cooperative relationship through reciprocal participation, focusing on shared issues among members. Regarding issues, within-school PLCs focused on microscopic problems such as curriculum reconstruction of subject-matter, while across-school PLCs focused on macro problems such as teacher professional development. Regarding activities and roles as PLC, within-school and across-school science PLCs shared such features as collaborative professional development, and interpersonal education such as mentoring for novice teachers. In terms of PLC's influence and outcomes, science teacher PLCs has a positive effect not only on the teachers themselves, but also on the students and the teacher culture in the school. In addition, science teacher PLCs need improvement of the physical conditions for community operation, and software support such as protocol provision for PLC operation and joint research or re-education with universities. In particular, joint research between universities and science teacher PLCs shows the future orientation of the PLC as an 'inquiry community'. Based on the results, the necessity of active support for science PLC, the necessity of developing a cooperative system between science teacher PLC and universities, and ways to spread the PLC of science core schools to that of general schools were proposed.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.347-358
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• 2021

The purpose of this study was to investigate the stage of concern and use level of early childhood teachers' STEAM, and to find out whether there is a difference in the stage of concern according to individual teachers' variables. The subjects were 242 teachers in charge of 3-5 years old kindergarten and daycare center in G city. The research tool was the stages of concern questionnaire (SoCQ). The collected data were converted to relative intensity by applying percentile conversion chart in the guidelines, and this was expressed as a concern profile graph, and t-test and ANOVA were performed to find out the difference in concern according to teacher's background variables. The research results are as follows. First, the stage of concern in early childhood teachers' STEAM was identified as a critical non-user profile. Second, the stage of concern in the teacher's STEAM was judged as a person who did not use, or was implemented for less than 2 years, and was a non-user or a novice. In addition, it was found that most of the teachers did not receive formal education for STEAM. third. There were differences in the educational background, career, current execution status of teachers, whether or not to take related courses in pre-service teacher education, and whether to plan for future implementation. And there were no differences in the majors and institution types of teachers. Based on these results, a support plan for changing the stage of concern of teachers about STEAM and improving the level of use was suggested.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.315-326
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• 2013

In this study, we investigated elementary school teachers' and students' perceptions of the reading materials in science textbooks. Participants were 181 teachers from 23 elementary schools who were teaching science and 643 third- to sixth-grade students from 12 elementary schools. A questionnaire for teachers consisted of 18 items and a questionnaire for students consisted of 11 items about their perceptions of the reading materials in science textbooks. Nine to twelve items, according to grades, examining the actual uses of each reading material in science textbooks were also included to both questionnaires. The results indicated that teachers have positive perceptions about reading materials and frequently use them in case of needs for supplement and/or enrichment of science learning. Novice teachers were found to have less positive perceptions about reading materials than expert teachers. Over 70 percent of students responded that they read all reading materials. Fifth- and sixth-grade students were tended to have less positive perceptions about reading materials than third-grade students. Finally, students tended to have more positive perceptions about reading materials than their teachers.

• Journal of Fisheries and Marine Sciences Education
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.302-313
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• 2006

This paper explores the efficacy on enforcing empowerment for the beginner special education teachers' adaptation of teaching life. Empowerment is widespread public concern regarding the role of the teacher in decision made in the operation of schools. Therefore what is discussed to be definition, a central component and strategies of empowerment based upon the through literature review. Empowerment is defined in terms of teachers power to participate in decision making about teaching and learning condition, especially is related to disabilities. And Empowerment has six components, decision making, professional growth, status, self-efficacy, autonomy, and impact. When novice teachers in special education utilize self-empowerment strategy, they have the opportunities for greater status and increasing power.Finally, empowerment is at the heart of special education teachers' adaptation of teaching life. It is suggested that follow-up studies should be conducted to develop indicator for assessing what teachers in special education perceived their empowerment in overall work. Also higher education program must address this issue in pre-service training of administrators and teachers in special education.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.765-780
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is to synthesize the theoretical perspectives, research methods, and research results of teachers' professional vision by reviewing and analyzing previous research papers and to suggest implications for science teacher education and research. Three databases were used to search peer reviewed journal articles published between 1997-2017, which include 'teachers' and 'professional vision' explicitly in abstracts and empirical studies only. 21 articles in total were analyzed and review results are as follows. First, researchers regarded professional vision as a new concept of teacher professionalism. Previous research viewed professional vision as integrated structure of teachers' knowledge or ability activated at specific moment. Second, the analytical framework of professional vision included two aspects; 'selective attention' and 'reasoning'. Several aspects of lessons or the desirable teaching and learning factors are suggested as the subcategories of selective attention. Hierarchical levels or independent reasoning ability factors are suggested as the subcategories of reasoning process. Third, research on teachers' professional vision focused more on middle school teachers than elementary teachers and on various subject areas. Most studies used video clips and more cases of using videos of non-participants were found. In case of measurement of professional vision, most quantitative scoring methods were whether the responses of experts and teachers on video clips were consistent. Last, most studies examined or assessed teachers' professional vision. It is reported that in-service teachers' professional vision was evaluated higher than novice teachers' and using video clips were effective to examine and improve teachers' professional vision.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.629-641
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• 2016

Understanding of how teachers change instruction can help predict what kind of educational materials is supportive or appropriate. On the basis of this idea, we explored elementary teachers' PCK progression on specific topics of astronomy: planet size and distance in solar system. To identify the development of PCK over time, we utilized learning progression (LP) as a conceptual framework. The progression of teacher PCK can also be illustrated as the hypothetical pathway from novice to expert like LP. Eight 5th grade elementary teachers participated in this study. We observed participating teachers' astronomy classes with the same topic. In order to document topic-specific PCK of participating teachers, we developed an analytic protocol consisting of four categories: knowledge of curriculum, knowledge of teaching strategies, knowledge of assessment, and astronomical thinking practice. In addition, we monitored the changes in the four participating teachers' PCK for two years in order to validate the evidences of the PCK progression. Participating teachers in this study took some intervention by attending a four-week pre-meeting with the researchers to profile an adaptive instruction. Through this research, we profiled four and five different levels of PCK progressions in three knowledge components (curriculum, teaching strategies, student assessment) and one astronomical thinking practice (systems thinking), respectively. Participating teachers demonstrated various levels and pathways in each component of PCK. This study released the empirical evidences in fostering instructional scaffolding, which is appropriate to the level of PCK of science teachers on specific topic.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 2011

The purpose of this research is to investigate ways to introduce mentoring system to support beginning and experienced teachers for their professional development. As an alternative to existing teacher training programs, we planned and implemented a mentoring system to examine its effects in developing professionalism among teachers-in-need, and those who have not met the teacher's evaluation standards. Mentoring is defined as being concerned with promoting the 'development of an individual to his/her full potential,' both professionally and personally. It is linked with professional and career development, and is somewhat characterized by an 'expert-novice' relationship. The mentoring system in science features group mentoring, where 3 prot$\'{e}$g$\'{e}$-mentor teams gathered together for instructional consulting using their videotaped classroom teaching. Through video-based discussions, teachers could share reflective experiences through collaborative investigations based on evidences revealed in classroom teaching videos. Using open-ended interviews with the teachers and video-based discussions, we extracted needs and goals of mentoring, the need of mentoring system to support beginning teachers, and the requirement of mentor quality in light of mentor's expected roles. Conclusions and recommendations related to teachers' mentoring and for the government's development of mentoring system are discussed.